43 Chapter 43: Back Home

As I made my way through the throngs of people, my eyes caught sight of a group of girls my age waving and jumping up and down, holding up posters and a cricket ball. My heart swelled with pride when I saw that they were celebrating our recent victory against Pakistan in the ODI series.

Even though I have lived a previous life, that was just like a movie I watched. My current life and age, my teen age, age where my hormones have taken the control of most of my tasks.

Although I had experienced a past life that felt like a distant movie, the present reality of my teenage years was entirely different. With hormones raging and impulses running high, I felt like I was living in a constant state of flux.

"Don't keep them waiting any longer. Go on, you got this," a voice urged me from behind. With a sudden push, I found myself moving towards the group of people who had been calling out my name.

My heart began to race as I approached them, the excitement and nerves building with each step. It was a feeling that I had become all too familiar with - the thrill of being in the limelight and the fear of not living up to expectations.

As I made my way through the crowd of fans, one particular girl caught my eye. She was holding out a cricket ball, her smile lighting up her face. I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest at the sight of her.

"Hello, Vipin!" she said, her voice sweet and musical. "Can we please have your autograph? We are your biggest fans."

I took the ball from her hand, my fingers brushing against hers. I signed my name, trying to keep my cool, but feeling her gaze on me. As I handed the ball back to her, I asked, "So, do you have a favorite player?"

She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Actually, I do. Sachin Tendulkar is my favorite, but you might take that place sooner or later."

My heart skipped a beat at her words. Could it be possible that she had a crush on me? The thought made my pulse race.

"Really?" I said, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

She nodded. "Yeah. I've seen you play this time. You're amazing."

As we said our goodbyes and parted ways, I couldn't help but feel love-struck.

As we boarded the bus, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. I had played my heart out in my debut match, and I was now part of the Indian cricket team - a dream I had held since I was a child.

"So, what was her name?" Yuvraj Singh asked, breaking the silence.

"Um, I forgot to ask," I replied, feeling a sense of embarrassment wash over me as the others in the bus burst into laughter.

Despite the teasing, I couldn't help but smile at the memory of the girl who had caught my eye.

After being whisked back to our hotels, we had a chance to rest up for a few hours. But just when I thought the day couldn't get any more exciting, I received a call in my room with some incredible news: I had been selected to play against England in an upcoming ODI series, set to take place right after the test matches.

Although I wasn't picked for the Test Series, fate had other plans in store for me. I was over the moon to learn that I had made the cut for the ODI team. The squad remained relatively unchanged from our previous successful venture, and I felt incredibly fortunate to be part of such a talented group.

Gautam Gambhir

Virendra Sehwag

Rahul Dravid (c)

Vipin Chaudhary

Yuvraj Singh

Mohammad Kaif

Suresh Raina

Irfan Pathan

MS Dhoni

Harbhajan Singh

RP Singh

Ramesh Powar

S Sreesanth

Munaf Patel

Ajit Agarkar

The countdown was on, and the excitement was palpable as the ODI series against England drew closer. With matches set to begin on March 28, I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I had secured permission from the management to take my final Class 12th Board Exams.

Luckily, I had already registered with a school in UP and my exams, starting on 26th February, would end by mid-March, leaving me with plenty of time for team training before the big games. And the cherry on top? I would even have a chance to reunite with my parents during my downtime.

The next day, I wasted no time getting on the first flight to Delhi, eager to start my journey back home. After landing, I hopped on a bus from ISBT and made my way closer to my destination. It had been a while since I'd seen my family, and I couldn't wait to surprise them.

I hadn't breathed a word to my mother or anyone else about my impending arrival, opting instead to keep it under wraps and preserve the element of surprise. Although she knew I was back in Mumbai, I had purposefully kept the details of my homecoming a mystery - I couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she saw me walk through the door!

As I arrived in my village, I was careful not to draw any unwanted attention, taking a detour through the fields to avoid being seen. My heart pounded with anticipation as I closed in on my home, but just as I was about to reach my destination, a group of children playing cricket in the fields caught sight of me. Not wanting to spoil the surprise, I quickly shushed them and urged them to keep quiet, promising them a reward for their silence.

As I drew closer, I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity wash over me - this was the place I had called home for most of my life. It was a modest, old-fashioned house, made from simple stone with sturdy red pillars and bricks.